CHAPTER IV 



FARMING 



FOLLOWING his taste for outdoor life, and with the ap- 

 proval of his father, Frederick Olmsted determined to be- 

 come a fanner at the time his brother was determining on a 

 doctor's career if his health permitted. It was through their 

 friend Frederick Kingsbury that Frederick Olmsted was 

 directed to the farm of Mr. Joseph Welton in Waterbury, 

 where he began the serious study of agriculture in May, 1845. x 



In June of that year he wrote to Charles Brace from 

 Waterbury : 



For myself I have every reason to be satisfied with my 

 prospects. I grow more contented or more fond of my busi- 

 ness every day, really, for a man that has any inclination 

 for agriculture, the occupation is very interesting, and if you 

 look closely you will be surprised to see how much honorable 

 attention and investigation is being connected with it. The 

 Cultivator has now five regular monthly European corre- 

 spondents. Scientific men of highest distinction are there 

 devoting their undivided attention to its advance; and I 

 think here, the coming year will show a remarkable progress. 



A day or two later Frederick wrote his brother John : 



For my part I believe that our farmers are, and have 

 cause to be, the most contented men in the world; and for 

 the matter of profit, it is sufficient to know that they live and 



1 This was a period of intelligent interest in scientific agriculture, and there 

 was an outburst of farm journals, beginning in the late thirties. See the list in 

 Bailey's Cyclopedia of American Agriculture, 1909, Vol. IV. 



75 



